If you’re looking for a place to travel with kids and want to choose a place where multiple attractions are close in proximity, D.C. is that place. The best part about D.C. is that most of those sites are free, which large families will truly appreciate. My wife and I traveled here with our 7-month-old, finding places that suited all of us. You can walk to the various tourist sites if you’re staying downtown or anywhere near the U.S. Capitol.  If you’re staying outside the city and are driving in, I recommend using an app such as Park Whiz or Spot Hero and parking at a nearby garage for the duration of the day. Metered parking is also available, but they have two or three-hour limits.

                   Day One- National Mall Area

Our first stop was the Washington Monument. It’s the tallest building in D.C. and a great starting point or meetup point because you can’t miss it.  The immediate area surrounding the monument was fenced off since it was getting a facelift. Nonetheless, it’s an iconic structure, and the field surrounding the monument is perfect for a picnic or flying kites.

Continuing our path, our second stop was the World War II Memorial, a short walk to the west. The Memorial itself was excellent, but the highlight of our time here was the presence of WWII veterans.

Before coming here, I had only seen 2 or 3 WWII vets. Seeing an entire group of men and women serving our country decades ago was cool. Thank you again for your service! After spending about 25 minutes here, we continued to the Lincoln Memorial.

The Lincoln Memorial is very popular, and you will find people here even past midnight when the Lincoln statue is illuminated. As you enter, the first floor has information on the Civil War and its impact on the country. The second floor is where the statue of Lincoln is situated. They have elevators if you cannot climb the stairs or have a stroller.

When you climb the stairs and look towards the east (the path we came from), you get a fantastic view of the National Mall and the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

After spending 40-45 minutes here, we walked to the Korean War Veterans Memorial and the Martin Luther King Memorial.

The MLK Memorial is next to the Tidal Basin, and you must walk south of Independence Avenue. The next stops were the Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Thomas Jefferson Memorial.

 

The Jefferson Memorial is a beautiful building influenced by the Pantheon of Rome. It’s the place to be if you’re in D.C. in early April when the cherry blossoms are full. The map below shows our path from the Washington Monument to the Jefferson Memorial. I’d budget around 3 hours if you really want to experience all the monuments and take pictures.

By the time we were done seeing all the memorials, it was time to get my restless 7-month-old son to the hotel so he could take his usual nap. After dinner, we walked to the South Lawn of the White House at night to take pictures.

No matter who is in office, the White House is just a beautiful building. I prefer the night view as the dark backdrop has a certain elegance. Once we were finished taking pictures here, our first day was in the books.

Day Two – Smithsonian Museum of Natural History and Lincoln Memorial at Night

Mother Nature did not want to cooperate with us on our second day in D.C. We had to deal with rain and thunderstorms, which took most of the outdoor attractions out of the picture. Fortunately, D.C. has a lot of excellent indoor attractions, so we took advantage of this and visited the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. There are some fascinating exhibits at this museum, and it’s also an interactive museum with hands-on activities that kids will enjoy.

If you want to see everything comfortably, budget at least 1.5 hours for the Smithsonian. After dinner, the rain mostly stopped, and many people recommended walking to the Lincoln Memorial at night. The Washington Monument reflects off the pool, making for a fantastic picture.

 

Day Three: Capitol Hill and Smithsonian Zoo

In the early afternoon, we made the 15-minute walk to the Capitol Building. It was a picture-perfect day with no clouds in sight.

Unlike all the other sites we had visited in D.C., the Smithsonian Zoo was a 12-15 minute drive from our hotel downtown. Like all the sites we had visited thus far, this one was also free of charge. And for a free zoo, it really had a lot to offer.

We saw lions, tigers, cheetahs, gorillas, giraffes, elephants, and other animals. This place is perfect for kids and offers something for people of all ages.

Other Places of Interest to Consider

Since we were here for three days with a seven-month-old, seeing everything we wanted in that short window would be impossible. If you are going to D.C., consider visiting the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, The Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, and the Sackler Gallery. The National Museum of Archives is home to the Declaration of Independence, The Bill of Rights, and The Emancipation Proclamation.  All these attractions are free, and if you are interested, you can make a small donation when you enter or exit.  D.C. is a beautiful city with no shortage of things to do and places to see. It’s a very walkable city and a great place for budget travelers who experience world-class attractions at no cost.